Miami Dolphins talking points: Lex Hilliard caught in numbers game

1. RB Lex Hilliard is becoming a folk hero, but it likely won’t be enough for him to make the 53-man roster.

Hilliard has won fans this pre-season with his hard-running style, highlighted by a 39-yard touchdown run against Carolina.
Hillard’s hurtling 15-yard play a little later was equally as impressive — and if not for a penalty, would have been the team’s second-longest run on a night when the Dolphins ran well.

Even without that gain, Hilliard leads the team with 94 rushing yards on 18 carries, averaging 5.2 yards a pop, during the pre-season.

But Hilliard, a sixth-round pick in 2008 out of Montana, also hasn’t faced a first-team defense and remains fourth in the logjam at running back, trailing Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams and Pat Cobbs.

Unless the team breaks convention and keeps four RBs, Hilliard is bound for the practice squad again. Cam Cameron kept four backs in 2007, with Cobbs as the No. 4 back behind Brown, Jesse Chatman and Lorenzo Booker.

That turned out well. Hilliard made a tackle and an assist on special teams in the pre-season opener, but no Dolphin plays special teams like Cobbs, the team’s best player there.

2. Here we go again with the coverage teams.

A 58-yard punt return by Carolina’s Captain Munnerlyn had to cause flashbacks for Dolfans who watched the team teeter on the brink of disaster a season ago because of special teams.

“We had three guys down there standing right in front of the guy, and the guy ran by us, all three of us,” coach Tony Sparano said. “So you know, I think it’s a fundamental thing there.”

Fundamental things on special teams cost the Dolphins big in 2008.

The list of coverage teams mistakes is a long one, including a 70-yard TD punt return by Houston’s Jacoby Jones in a loss and a 93-yarder by Oakland’s Johnnie Lee Higgins in a last-minute, come-from-behind win by Miami.

Seattle nearly beat Miami because the Seahawks began scoring drives on the 44, 45 and 50 in a 21-19 loss that came down to a two-point conversion attempt.

Facing the NFL’s toughest schedule based on opponents’ 2008 winning percentage, the Dolphins have less margin for error this season.

Special teams could be the difference between a winning or losing record.

Camarillo’s lack of action (17 snaps) or production (2 catches, 4 yards) during two games has some wondering where he’ll fit in this season.

Nine months removed from an ACL tear, Camarillo is working his way back into form and coaches don’t want to rush a player Tony Sparano referred to Monday as “Superman” for his speedy recovery.

Ted Ginn Jr. and Davone Bess have had nice training camps, while rookies Brian Hartline and Patrick Turner have shown lots of potential.

But Camarillo has been doing what he always doing, running textbook routes, getting open and catching everything.

When the games begin, he’ll do it again.

Remember, Camarillo had 55 catches last season, one shy of Ginn for the team lead, despite missing the last five regular-season games with a knee injury. Bess caught 30 of his 54 passes after Camarillo went down.

This season, he’ll remain Chad Pennington’s safety valve in clutch situations more often than not.